Returns
By H.T.R. WILLIAMS
Lash of paradox, when I was often told
there's nothing better than to swim wisdom's pool.
In those cold depths is something greater than gold,
but the long tongue of short knowledge is the fool's
noose, and the bird's song a hand on my shoulder.
''You're older,'' it says.''There's no fool like an old
lad.'' My careless hand empty, this grandy heart
somehow goes to gather nothing now to show
but a live eel of memory, to carry
over the slap of years, into wisdom's pool.
- H.T.R. Williams lives and writes in Dunedin. Read more of his work at www.htrwilliams.com
• Contributions to this weekly column are invited from writers south of the Waitaki River; should be previously unpublished and not exceed 35 lines, and should be in typed or emailed text - do not send attachments. There will be no correspondence over selections. Post to Opinion Page, Editorial Department, Otago Daily Times, P.O. Box 181, Dunedin; or email philip.somerville@odt.co.nz
